Time to upgrade your ROADM-based metro or regional network?

ROADM technologies have become popular among service providers because of the ability to create flexible metro, regional and long-haul networks that are easy to modify, even remotely, as network requirements change. Other benefits of a ROADM-based architecture are support for automatic power balancing and the ability to make configuration changes without affecting traffic already passing through the system.

Time for a technology refresh

Older ROADM installations present a number of challenges. The most obvious of which is that significant advances have been made in ROADM technologies.

While earlier ROADM solutions were based on fixed wavelength windows, up-to-date solutions support Flexgrid. This allows for increased flexibility as the spectral width of each wavelength can be configured independently. Over time, the granularity of how the solution allocates spectrum bandwidth within ROADMs has also improved, allowing for an increased number of wavelengths to be carried over the same network. Both factors have come to play an increasingly important role in the continuous struggle to secure more bandwidth in service provider networks.

We also cannot neglect that yesterday’s solutions support yesterday’s and at the very best today’s capacity requirements – but not necessarily tomorrow’s. Supporting the low-cost, high-performance 400ZR and 800ZR standards, which will further improve network capacity, is another driving force for a technology refresh.

Another more practical challenge faced by operators needing to update or expand their networks is that many ROADM solutions are no longer supported.

Cost-efficiency and flexibility in focus for next-generation ROADM solutions

Once you’ve realized that your ROADM-based network is up for a technology upgrade, the question of the hour becomes, what else should we be looking for in a next-generation ROADM solution? 

The earlier metro network ROADM implementations tended to be strictly tied to solutions from a single vendor. For service providers, this meant that, if you decided to buy ROADMs from one equipment manufacturer, you were typically more or less locked into buying the complementary equipment such as transponders and management systems from the same vendor. Today, the Open ROADM initiative and the Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) are important driving forces for a more flexible and modern direction. Today’s up-to-date solutions have taken a huge step away from traditional lock-in solutions towards disaggregated networking. This open approach to networking increases flexibility and performance as it allows service providers to handpick best-of-breed components for every part of their network.

As ROADMs have gained in popularity, many service providers are now also considering deploying them further out in the metro or even the access network in a way similar to the solutions already considered highly effective in regional and long-haul networks. As the number of units quickly multiplies when moving further out in the network, cost typically becomes an issue. When every dollar counts, the technologies chosen for these edge ROADMs must not only support the latest technological advancements but also present a cost-efficient alternative to traditional ROADM solutions.

The combination of cost-efficient technology and the increased flexibility that comes with increased openness and standardization lays the foundation for optimizing the total cost of ownership for the metro and regional access networks of tomorrow.

Cost-efficiency and flexibility in focus for next-generation ROADM solutions

At Smartoptics, our commitment to openness goes beyond words. We're proud to support the Open ROADM initiative and help drive the industry toward greater interoperability and flexibility in optical networking. 

Built on OpenROADM models, our latest 34-degree DCP-R ROADMs bring that vision to life. With full Flexgrid support and seamless compatibility with 400ZR and 800ZR optics, you can take advantage of the latest 800G technology for automated, scalable and cost-efficient metro and regional deployments. DCP-R ROADMs are easy to manage using the SoSmart software suite – a modern, modular platform for open network management.